What are the best gangster movies?

Perhaps more 'mood pieces' than out and out action, but very engaging films set against gang/crime background:

Along the same line as the Black Rain, The Hunted was pretty passable.

The best bits was the soundtrack. ( Kodo drummers )

JWM,

You see the Tampopo as a gangstar film????

Out of topic, but speaking of Black Rain, if you really want to be disturbed, try 'Kuroi Ame ( aka Black Rain ) by Shohei Imamura.

Guaranteed to be depressed.

Although ostensible an episode piece about a noodle bar, there are (as I recall) some clear/strong gangster themes.

JWM,

It's been a while since I watched it, but the *gangstar* elements were just a sideline. All I remember was a widower determined to make the best noodle soup in Japan.

A pig head soupstock scene still cracks me up because she reminded me of me!

Give "dead mans shoes" a try. Very british very low budget.Not exactly a gangster movie albiet it contains some lowlifes and some serious retribution,kind of a real life "death wish".

For me 'Donnie Brasco' is the best of the mafia style movies.

Great performances by Depp and especially pacino as a rather tatty and slightly sad washed up hoodlum.

'Forgettaboutit'

Goodfellas

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
For me 'Donnie Brasco' is the best of the mafia style movies.

Great performances by Depp and especially pacino as a rather tatty and slightly sad washed up hoodlum.

'Forgettaboutit'

Yes - I saw that movie a few years ago and would agree with these comments.

The Untouchables, A History of Violence, Casino, Eastern Promises. Thats the best I can come up with after a night shift!

Dave

Another movie to consider is "Hoodlum" (1997) starring Laurence Fishburne, which was based on a historical conflict between rival New York gangs in the 1920s and 1930s. It actually deals with the events preceding those covered by the 2007 movie "American Gangster". The mentor of Denzil Washington's character in the latter movie is played by Fishburne in the earlier film.

Point Blank, Goodfellas, Get Carter and Touchez pas au grisbi.

Grosse Pointe Blank and Leon - if you allow professional killers.

You could try this for change from western gangster movies!

Style is everything....

Miller's Crossing
Bugsy

I'm not a big fan of gangster movies when they glorify the thug life (i.e. Goodfellas) but the following movies seem to strike the right balance between choice and consequence:

Miller's Crossing
Godfather I & II
Donnie Brasco
Scarface
A Better Tomorrow II

Most of the above, plus Ronin

Essex Boys
Boondock Saints
Ronin- not gangsters, but what the hey.
Eastern Promises
Business #1
Rock-n-Rolla
Killing Zoe
Fargo
Doomsday
Gamorra

Maybe this will be added to the list?

http://www.apple.com/trailers/...cenemies/medium.html

Point Blank with Lee Marvin - simple, stylish and direct.

On the other end of the spectrum, Some Like it Hot - funny gangster flick of a sorts.

There is a new film just out thats going to be worth a look.
Done by Richard the Skids Jobson.
A Forum member spent a few weeks of very very cold nights in the winter in Edinburgh's New Town/ Scotland working on this movie.
New Town Killers.

Stu

Burn after reading
Good fellas
Snatch
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
No country for old men
The big Lebowski - yeah, not really "gangster"...
Lucky Number Slevin
Bandits (Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton)
...

Last night on Turner movies I saw an interview with William Wellman, sure was a wild old cuss. Started directing in silent era and he wanted LOTS of action. He wanted to do Public Enemy and the studio turned him down because they'd just done one, but he said he'd top that, and did. Early on he switched the main characters because James Cagney just ate up the screen. It made both of their careers take off.

In fact he made many iconic movies, if you want to see them try going thru in order. Especially the first A Star I Born and the most intense western The Oxbow Incident with Henry Fonda. boy is that depressing but good message. He was turned down by every studio till he went to a producer he didn't like working with in the past who said to go ahead and make it. It was a big hit.

quote:

Originally posted by mudwolf:
Last night on Turner ....

and Performance.

Wellman made lots of caustic remarks about movies in the interview but one thing struck me. "You'll notice there are not a lot of close up shots in my pictures, because they are over used. I take in the whole setting and then POW the closeup gives it that punch."

So many movies now are all closeups you really don't know what's going on around the actor.

C'mon, nobody's mentioned Layer Cake yet...

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Abela:
C'mon, nobody's mentioned Layer Cake yet...

That's because it was boring.